This.

The idea that games are better kept in the heartlands is a fallacy. At the 2000 World Cup, we had less than 6,000 for an England game in St Helens, barely over 2,000 for a match in Barrow whilst more people from Gateshead paid to see Australia than people from Hull.

Northern crowds are apathetic towards internationals at the best of times. Let other cities enjoy what we evidently aren't that bothered about.

Well said, that man. And anyway, we all [isay[/i we want to see our game grow which is why this bid ought to receive backing from fans of the sport.

I think more of that was to do with the (then) people running the RFL's false idea that people would just turn up to games without the need for advertising because of the fact that it was RL. In reality, that was never going to happen, and the idea behind these bid teams is to ensure that the host areas are interested and willing to market these games to their local areas.

I am interested to know what sort of crowd they think they could get in Bristol and for what sort of game they are looking for. And also, what sort of crowds the RFL are targeting for certain games. Some of the lower-ranked games will obviously be expected to get lower attendances, and will having these in the heartlands mean they'll get bigger attendances because they are RL games (in an already concentrated area) or lower because of apathy towards the lower ranked games?

The posts from Bristol are fantastic, and clearly show that the area has got, in spades, the one thing money can't buy, and that is an enthusiastic, "can-do" attitude. This alone would make a game staged down there a success, because clearly there are already large numbers that have already "bought in" to the concept.

I would certainly hope that if the detailed bid stands scrutiny, these people would get the reward that such enthusiasm richly deserves. The knee-jerk doom-mongers are few, and can rightly be dismissed, because the fact is that early and 'minnow' games have not been well attended in the 'heartlands' in the past - and that is almost totally down to a lack of enthusiasm on the part of those who should have been promoting each of those games.

To misquote somebody, "Build it up well enough, and they will come".

Cannot believe some of the negative and doom-laden posts on this thread.



What we have been told about the bid suggests that a great deal of preparation has gone into it, and that there is a head of steam that would likely make it a success. So long as the bid stands up to proper RL scrutiny, and not just a lot of pie-in-the-sky then I hope that they are given a decent game to work with.

As others have said, putting on a game in the heartlands in absolutely no guarantee of success, as we have seen all too often. So, its great to have an enthusiastic and well planned bid from a new area

Good luck to them, I say

This bid has something that the 2000 world cup didnt have and that is backers of sporting teams and regional tourism offices. Who will get behind the marketing of the comp.

In 2000 it was a case of picking random stadiums and seeing if they were free for that date if so book and hope that someone turned up.

Only a short hop for me so good luck to them, I'll look to attend if it happens whoever is playing.

Thanks for the support! Tomorrow's announcement of support at the Bristol City game should drum up a good amount of public interest and a chance to push the bid in local and national media. I'm confident we can at least match the attendance of the same game held in the heartlands and to take it to a new place and achieve that would be great; you can imagine a successful bid will get us a "smaller" game but the "102 years factor" and growing interest in RL promoted by those backing the bid should be able to get folk through the turnstiles.

I'm not convinced that 'Brizzol' really deserves an RL fixture.

Why?

Because no one apart from half a dozen Brizzololians and a few Welshies from over the bridge would bother turning up to watch it.

The nearest professional RL club to Bristol is about 3 hours down the M4.

It's a bad idea.


A VERY bad idea.